VALDARNO DI SOPRA ORGANIC RURAL DISTRICT | MONTEVARCHI, APRIL 23-24: DOUBLE OPENING OF THE COVERED MARKET AND STUDY CENTER

The Valdarno Superiore Organic Rural District announces the creation of an important institutional initiative to be held on April 23 and 24, 2026, in Montevarchi , in the province of Arezzo, dedicated to the valorization of rural territories, the promotion of the short supply chain, and the sustainable development of agri-food systems.

The event includes the simultaneous inauguration of the   new​​​​   Market​​​​​​  C o p e r t​   of the​​   Farmers​​​​​​​​​​  And   of the   C e n t r o   S t u d i   from the   National Council of Food Districts (CNDC) , two strategic projects that represent a significant step forward in strengthening integrated territorial policies .

" The i n a u g u r a t i o n​   c o n j u n t​​   d e l   Market​​​​​​   C o p e r t​   of the​​​   Farmers​​​​​​​​​​   And   d e l   Study Center​​​​​​​​​   from the​​   C o n s u l t a   N a t i o n a l​   of the​   Di s r e ct i​   d e l   C i b o represents a moment of particular importance for our territory and for the entire system of food districts - says Michele Rossi, president of the Valdarno di Sopra Organic Rural District - This is an initiative that strengthens the link between agricultural production, research, innovation and local communities, contributing to the definition of sustainable development models capable of valorising territorial specificities and the Italian agri-food heritage" .

The new Covered Farmers' Market is a cutting-edge facility, designed according to the principles of green building and energy efficiency, equipped with systems for generating energy from renewable sources and for heat recovery. The multi-level structure will house spaces dedicated to the direct sale of local products and areas for educational activities, tastings, workshops, and outreach initiatives. The Market represents a local hub aimed at promoting food culture, biodiversity, and sustainability, as well as a hub for the District's activities.

At the same time, the establishment of the C e n t r o   S t u d i   from the   C o ns u l t a   The National Food Districts Center is a national initiative aimed at coordinating research, training, and disseminating best practices in the food district sector . The Center will work in synergy with universities, research institutions, institutions, and economic operators, with the aim of supporting the growth of local agri-food systems and promoting the integrated development of rural communities.

The decision to unify the two inaugurations in a single institutional event aims to underline the complementarity between territorial infrastructures and strategic planning tools , highlighting the central role of cooperation between public and private entities in building sustainable development models.

Institutional Program​​​​​

The activities will begin on Thursday​   23   April​​​​​  with a meeting dedicated to the A G R I S O CI A L project   4.0 , aimed at comparing notes between the participating delegations, followed by an institutional welcome.

The​   The day on Friday , April 24, will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Accademia Valdarnese del Poggio with a welcome for the delegations. This will be followed by the inauguration ceremony of the CNDC Study Center, with speeches by institutional representatives, academics, and agri-food industry professionals.

Between​​   the   a u t o r i t y   And   the   speakers​​​​​​  expected :​​​​​​​

• the President of the Rural and Organic District of Valdarno di Sopra, Michele Rossi;

• the Mayor of the Municipality of Montevarchi, Silvia Chiassai Martini;

• the President of the Tuscany Region, Eugenio Giani;

• the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Luigi D'Eramo;

• representatives of national bodies, research institutes and sector organisations.

The event will then move to the Covered Producers’ Market “ Mercatale ” for the ribbon-cutting and official presentation of the structure, with further institutional interventions and moments of in- depth discussion .

In the afternoon, the work will continue with the CNDC Study Center Assembly and a discussion and networking session between institutions, producers, researchers, and stakeholders, aimed at sharing experiences and developing new projects.